Page 51 of Branded Hearts

Fuck, I want to kiss her so bad, and seeing her look at me like that makes me want to toss aside my own fucking rules.

I raise my eyebrow, smirking slightly. “You coming?”

She nods, scrambling to her feet, her cheeks flushing deeper. I wink before jogging down to the water. The coolness of the river has a refreshing bite to it as I dive in, relishing the sensation against my warm skin.

As I resurface, I see Amelia peeling off her cover-up, revealing a simple pink bikini. Watching her walk into the water, I’m momentarily stunned, speechless. It’s the first time I’ve seen her like this, so exposed, and her and her body is fucking breathtaking.

Her curves are just right, the bikini hugging every inch in a way that makes my pulse spike. With each sway of her hips, a wave of heat slams into me, my cock stirring to life, straining against my swimmers. I try to remind myself that she’s my sister’s best friend.

Off limits.But damn, she’s making it impossible to stick to that rule.

The bikini showcases her curves perfectly, from her ample breasts to her toned, flat stomach. I’m momentarily stunned, lost in admiration, caught up in her. But then Michael splashes me, snapping me out of it.

“The fuck?” I snap, irritation roughening my voice.

He just shakes his head, a teasing glint in his eyes. I roll mine in response, forcing all thoughts of Amelia’s perfect body aside. At least I’m already in the water, so hiding the semi I’ve got won’t be a problem.

This girl is seriously testing my limits.

16

Like Real People Do -Hozier

The back balcony is a slice of heaven. The setting sun casts a golden glow over everything, making the river shimmer like a sea of diamonds. I wrap my arms around myself, the soft, oversized sweater hugging me as I breathe in the crisp air.

The BBQ sizzles in the background, the smell of grilled meat mingling with the earthy scent of the trees. It’s a perfect spot to relax, with the wooden planks warm under my feet and the Adirondack chairs set out like a Pinterest dream. But all I can think about is Bradley’s body… up close and personal. Sure, I accidentally saw him naked a few weeks ago, but seeing him shirtless up close, with time to admire?

Totally lethal.

It felt like a guilty pleasure.

Those chiselled abs, the light dusting of hair on his chest trailing down, down to his... Oh, my gosh. Why am I even thinking about this? I’m such a dork. I just sat there staring at him, ogling him like a total idiot. He caught me, and then he winked.

My brain short-circuited.

Honestly, I’m a complete disaster when it comes to him.

As I sit here, the girls beside me are totallyengrossed in a conversation about the latest TV show obsession. My phone vibrates on the table next to me, and I glance down to see it’s a message from my work friends.

I hesitate for a moment, not wanting to give too much away, but I know they’ll pry it out of me, eventually.

My cheeks flush as I read their messages. No way. I can’t do that to Liv—go behind her back and sleep with herbrother.

Holy moly, this is tough.

But really, I got myself into this mess.

Despite how wrong it is, I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s everywhere I look, invading my thoughts and making my heart race. I want it so bad, it’s driving me crazy. His chiselled abs, thatsmirk, the way he looks at me... It’s all I can think about. The more I try to push him out of my mind, the stronger the pull becomes.

This is impossible. How can something feel so right and so wrong at the same time?

I sigh, feeling my cheeks flush as I think about how to respond. Liv, Isla, and Imogen are still deep in conversation, and I don’t want to be rude by ignoring them.

These texts definitely need to wait for another time, especially not now, while I’m sitting at the table with Liv. And to top it off, Bradley is right there, mere metres away. I glance up at the guys, observing them work the BBQ. Bradley is casually sipping his beer, engaged in conversation with Michael. Suddenly, he shifts his gaze in my direction, and our eyes meet once more. I swiftly avert my eyes, a rush of nerves tingling through me.

I hastily type, “Gotta go! Talk later!” and hit send, hoping to end the conversation before it gets any more awkward. I put my phone into my pocket, feeling it vibrate with more texts, but I don’t pull it back out. Taking a deep breath, I join the conversation between the girls.

They’re discussing our plans for the day tomorrow,with Liv suggesting a hike along the river trail.

---